Q: Here’s an update on the toll on Interstate 66 outside of D.C. It hit a high of $44 Thursday.

Tom SimpsonSan Jose

A: That’s up from $40 a few days earlier. I wonder what it could hit this week as Christmas travelers take to the road. Maybe $50?

Q: Why are the metering lights onto Highway 87 from Curtner Avenue not working? …
It seems like they have not been working for a year.

Danny Gray, Ted Hashiguchi, Danny Gray and others

A: It’s been out since early April. Electrical problems have kept the light dark and but it is now fixed.

Q: Within the past couple of weeks San Jose has changed Chynoweth Avenue by Martial Cottle Park.

They have taken a wide two-lane road and put in a permanent divider splitting it into one lane east with diagonal parking by the park. The weird thing is that the diagonal lines go both directions so you actually have to back into some of them.

The previous westbound lane is now two lanes — one going west and one east.

You turn onto Chynoweth from Snell and in about 100 feet the road divides. The dangerous thing is that many going westbound still think this is still two lanes going west and thus the possibility of an accident.

Martha BryanSan Jose

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A: It should be clear in a couple of weeks when new signs and painted lines are added.

It’s all part of the of a project to improve traffic safety, parking and access to the park, beautify the area with a median and trees, and enhance street lighting for better nighttime visibility.

The median was installed to help separate traffic between the neighborhood and park. North of the median will have diagonal parking at the park frontage and one-lane for vehicles going west.

South of the median will be two lanes for vehicles going eastbound and westbound. This will provide direct access for residents into the neighborhood.

Currently, without permanent striping and signage, it is unsafe to allow a two-way street on the residential side. Once striping and new signs have been installed, two-way traffic will be opened in the next two weeks.

Q: Come on, folks! The highway trash problem isn’t Caltrans’ responsibility. It is ours. We need to go back to Ladybird Johnson’s “Don’t be a litterbug” days and teach our children, friends, and families to not throw things out our car windows and to cover trash in our truck beds. A lot of the problems could be solved if people acted responsibly.

Gary Richards has covered traffic and transportation in the Bay Area as Mr. Roadshow since 1992. Prior to that he was an assistant sports editor at the paper from 1984-1987. He started his journalism career as a sports editor in Iowa in 1975.